There has long been a debate over the legitimacy of both the scientific (academic) and applied forms of kinesiology. Scientists and some medical professionals believe that applied kinesiology is ineffective and is not grounded in medical or scientific fact. Scientific kinesiology has itself fought off criticism from other fields of academia that claim that the study is too diverse and mirrors work already covered by other medical fields.
Effectiveness
Interestingly, although applied kinesiology has faced several scientific studies on its effectiveness, the American Chiropractic Association reports that 37.6% of its chiropractors actively use applied kinesiology in their consultancy. Similar figures are quoted in the UK and Europe.
Some concerned community groups have called for a differentiation between chiropractics and applied kinesiology practitioners, as the lines between the trained medical specialists and the alternative therapists can become blurred. There is evidence to suggest that applied kinesiology, when combined with sound nutritional advice and regular exercise, may have some benefits, although sceptics claim these positive outcomes may simply be a result of a healthier lifestyle.
Specialists' Background
Another key difference between scientific and applied kinesiology is the backgrounds of the specialists from each field. In general terms, scientific or academic kinesiologists come from a scientific or medical background based in research or human movement. Applied kinesiologists, meanwhile, can become qualified through attending a series of simple courses accredited by the International College of Professional Kinesiology Practice (ICPKP).